What’s going on with laptop hinges these days?


Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

Quinlan said:
Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

Aren’t ThinkPads made of plastic?

Holt said:

Quinlan said:
Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

Aren’t ThinkPads made of plastic?

Most ThinkPads aren’t fully plastic. They’re usually magnesium alloy with a coating that makes them look like plastic.

Holt said:

Quinlan said:
Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

Aren’t ThinkPads made of plastic?

Depends on the model. Some are magnesium, and some high-end ones even use carbon fiber.

Quinlan said:
Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

The only good thing about my Dell is its build quality, honestly.

Quinlan said:
Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

What laptop isn’t plastic these days? My Asus TUF is supposedly ‘military grade,’ but the plastic near the brass nuts failed over time. My son and I recently replaced the keyboard, and some of that plastic snapped off during disassembly. I’m just relieved it was in a part we were replacing. Next time, I might try reinforcing those areas with JB Weld.

@Zan
There are metal laptops from Acer, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Asus, but they’re usually the premium models.

@Zan
I use a refurbished 2010 MacBook running Linux. It’s reliable, though upgrading storage or RAM is a pain.

Van said:
@Zan
I use a refurbished 2010 MacBook running Linux. It’s reliable, though upgrading storage or RAM is a pain.

I have a 2013 MacBook. I’ve never tried putting Linux on it, but it sounds interesting!

@Zan
If it’s an Intel MacBook, installing Linux is pretty easy. The real challenge is upgrading the hardware.

Van said:
@Zan
If it’s an Intel MacBook, installing Linux is pretty easy. The real challenge is upgrading the hardware.

I usually go with Mint, especially the Cinnamon desktop.

@Zan
The TUF line is Asus’ budget range. Higher-end models like the Zephyrus G14 have aluminum unibodies and durable metal hinges.

@Zan
My current laptop is metal. It’s thin and flexes slightly under pressure, but the hinges and chassis are solid.

Morgan said:
@Zan
My current laptop is metal. It’s thin and flexes slightly under pressure, but the hinges and chassis are solid.

How are thin laptops for daily use? I’ve only used sturdy Lenovo models and a large Chromebook.

@Addison
Thin laptops are great for portability but often sacrifice cooling and performance. Brands like Lenovo, Acer, and Apple excel here, though Apple tends to be the thinnest.

Quinlan said:
Avoid laptops that are mostly plastic or have a thin aluminum shell wrapped around a plastic frame. They won’t last.

Check out Razer laptops. They’re like Windows versions of Macs in terms of build quality. Mine held up okay even after the hinge failed.

This happens when users don’t open the lid from the center and twist the hinge too much. That’s why they break.

Micah said:
This happens when users don’t open the lid from the center and twist the hinge too much. That’s why they break.

As someone in laptop repair, this is common, especially with HPs and 2-in-1 models. Their hinges don’t handle the stress well.

@Bowie
It’s always fun when unscrewing the hinge makes the screw hole pop off because of poorly molded plastic. Happens a lot with cheaper Dells.